Having established a comfortable lead at half time through two tries from the exceptional pace and skill of Mark Lawrence all augured well for Cobham whose three-quarters had completely outplayed their opposite numbers in a one sided first half and looked dangerous every time they had the ball.

Folkestone had the heavier pack but had been unable to impose their advantage as Cobham were performing well in the lineout and the tactical kicking by Richard Small well supported by wingers Aiden Botten and Dave Francis kept Cobham in the driving seat.

It was Folkestone who stepped up a gear at half time running in two good tries to trail by a single point with only ten minutes to go.

But the Cobham backs were starved of possession throughout the second half as the Folkestone pack totally dominated the scrums, pushing the lighter and it has to be said disorganised Cobham pack all over the park.

It was no surprise when Folkestone’s Simon Harris ran in for the winning try despite some obvious crossing but Cobham cannot complain and can only rue a second half performance that they will want to forget.

Cobham started the match well, pressurising the visitors’ line but were forced to retreat largely due to conceding a substantial number of penalties and not helping matters by engaging the referee in conversation.

Both sides struggled to settle into a pattern of play but neither was able to establish any supremacy, Folkestone having the only penalty attempt in the early stages, but showing that they well prepared for the battle up front by putting the squeeze on consistently at the scrum, with some success.

Cobham’s backs were well supplied and the three-quarters moved at pace only failing to score from being over adventurous.

Cobham defended very well against the Folkestone attacks and soon Richard Small was able to pick up the loose ball, feeding the supporting Mark Lawrence, whose sudden change of pace totally deceived the Folkestone defenders, and the Cobham centre was able to sprint in for a try under the posts, Richard Small converting.

Folkestone skipper Dave Easby reduced the deficit with a well struck penalty but it was Cobham that finished the half stronger, scoring their second try just before half time.

Dave Kerr took a quick penalty and after good support work by the forwards the ball was moved to the backs where Mark Lawrence, with room to move in, shifted up a gear in pace to find the gap and again out-sprinted the cover defence to score his second try.

Folkestone came out fired up for the start of the second half and quickly made inroads into the Cobham defence with good interplay between backs and forwards, Richard Price finishing off the move to score in the corner.

Cobham were now under severe pressure in the scrums conceding several metres on their own ball on almost every occasion largely due to the lack of cohesion in the front five.

Folkestone were now in total command of the game and the superior Cobham threequarters hardly had a touch of the ball as the rampant visitors piled on the pressure.

The visitors found the form that was lacking in the first half and it was no surprise when Richard Price went in for the second Folkestone try after Cobham missed some tackles.

Folkestone nearly scored again but the pass was adjudged forward and both sides battled hard to find the score that would clinch the result.

Good work by Matt Jarvis prevented one score from a scrum on the Cobham line but Folkestone eventually scored in the corner despite blatant obstruction that confounded the Cobham defence.

In the final minutes, and needing a try to win the game, Cobham nearly turned it all around in dramatic fashion as Richard Small charged down a kick ahead, secured possession and passed to Dave Francis who was in the clear for a sprint to the line but Cobham’s speedy wing could not hold on to possession and Cobham’s last chance evaporated.